What can we do to speed up Bitcoin mass adoption?

[m2017]

Residents of any country in the world can officially use only the national currency as a means of payment (if somewhere this is not the case, then correct me). Of course, you can pay in any other currency in a dark alley, if you agree, but the only legal means is always the national currency of the country of your residence. If you look at the situation from this point of view, then why would the governments of any country allow the use of bitcoin as a means of payment? Other currencies are not allowed, but bitcoin will be allowed. Why would governments suddenly be given such privileges for bitcoin? For me personally, this is obvious and my forecasts are pessimistic in this regard. The maximum, in my opinion, that they will allow is to officially invest in bitcoin and generously allow you to share % of the profits with them.

I think you are wrong here.

Legal tender (national currency) - "is a form of money that courts of law are required to recognize as satisfactory payment" (wiki). So it does not mean that you are forced to use it to pay for something. It means that you are forced to accept it if someone is trying to use it to pay for something. So you can legally pay for TV using your PC (barter exchange - Is bartering legal in the US?) if someone else is accepting such payment.

Many shops in my country (especially those close to borders) have 2 prices on each product (national currency and euro) so that tourists could easily pay using both currencies.

I spoke from the position of my experience and the characteristics of my region. Of course, each region has its own peculiarities and nuances. It is in your country you can use 2 currencies (EU and national currency), and in mine only 1. Other options are officially impossible. Even a business that receives income in dollars is obliged to exchange them for the national currency (such a tricky way for the government to take away $).

Your view of the situation is based solely on where you live,

Quite right. Everyone looks at any situation through the prism of their experience and observations, but we have some advantage - a forum. Here we can share our knowledge, information, experience, thoughts, which allows us to get a versatile and close to complete picture. To do this, I raised these questions in this topic in order to hear different points of view and look at the situation from different angles.

The fact is that the state cares exclusively about collecting taxes, and all those who operate legally are liable to pay taxes.

Indeed, so! This is its main function, everything else is idle talk.

In addition, sellers use a local payment processor that allows them to get a fiat directly to their bank account, in the end, it is a win-win situation for everyone.

Did I understand correctly that people in some places in your country pay in bitcoin, which are converted into fiat and go to the seller's account from which taxes are paid? So basically everything is legal?

However, one thing we must not forget is that most people do not see Bitcoin as a currency, but as a speculative asset - which leads us to the fact that the volume of such payments would probably not increase significantly even if Bitcoin becomes a legal tender in most countries.

I am also inclined to the point of view that bitcoin has strongly departed from Satoshi's concept. The function as a means of payment has evolved / transformed into an investment tool, a way of accumulation, savings. The role of the method of payment for goods and services has been partially preserved, but the share of this is already smaller.

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[Lucius]

Did I understand correctly that people in some places in your country pay in bitcoin, which are converted into fiat and go to the seller's account from which taxes are paid? So basically everything is legal?

Yes, you got it right - paying with Bitcoin and some altcoins is completely legal, although the question is how many people use such payment methods. I can only say that the payment processor and the company behind it are generating more and more revenue year after year, although I believe most of the revenue comes from their crypto exchange business.

I didn’t want to put links in a previous post, but this is one of the very popular web stores in my country, and everything you see can be paid for with cryptocurrencies. Another example of how easy it is to accept cryptocurrencies in everyday business.

I am also inclined to the point of view that bitcoin has strongly departed from Satoshi's concept. The function as a means of payment has evolved / transformed into an investment tool, a way of accumulation, savings. The role of the method of payment for goods and services has been partially preserved, but the share of this is already smaller.

This is more than evident, but very little can be done about it. Most people are far from understanding Bitcoin to the level where they could use it as a currency, because the problem with on-chain transactions is that they are not instant and people do not understand how fees work, not to mention the input/output factor and transaction size. Some say the solution is in LN, but the whole thing would have to be considerably simplified to be widely accepted.

In this regard, we currently have a problem due to the influence of people who promote Bitcoin as digital gold, and ordinary people are just following their example. It is ideal to find some balance between using Bitcoin as a currency and at the same time as a long-term investment.

[worldtraveller321]

This will not happen anytime soon. More less Bitcoin may never become the main currency to use for getting goods and services. As so many people do not understand the money and economic systems. Many only see their form of FIAT as the way to do things.
The governments and powers that be will do what they can to keep that mindset as well.

It is more less a case of self education. However many people are too busy trying to make a living to have anytime to look at money systems. Yes many will see Bitcoin forever as a rich man's coin. Reason as the "whales" promote as having Bitcoin. Therefore is seen as something only the more wealthy can afford.

It is true. On this sad but true. I am a not anti bitcoin by any means. one just has to see the true picture.

The only way is to be open minded and take small steps. Maybe form smaller communities and create internal economies where one can transact in Bitcoin on that way.

Just a catch 22

[verita1]

What we need to accelerate the adoption of bitcoin are the ideas as you mention them.
Marketing as you describe it could be a good option. If businesses offer their customers a discount if they pay with bitcoin, it is very striking and invites customers to use this means of payment.
There are ideas to get people to include bitcoin in their businesses but ignorance is the biggest obstacle.
Although bitcoin began to be used in 2009, statistics say that we are a small percentage that use bitcoin in the world.
Probably this year that percentage will increase and we can see adoption more closely.

[worle1bm]

If you are running some business then you can add bitcoin related payment options with your customers or if you have some fixed group of them you can open up a Lightning Network channel with them to avoid the fees to some extent.

Spread some awareness among your circle by educating them about its usage and importance by which they can invest some amounts in it.

If you have some group support then organize some seminars in which you can deliver the lecture to people and promote the adoption.But with time i think the popularity is growing at much faster pace and everyone will be hearing this term bitcoin.

[Uang_kartal]

The development of bitcoin/crypto-curency has gone far enough, brother, this makes it possible for a person/group to purify transactions, even for standard payments and even renting which is quite dark in nature for pilgrims etc., maybe taxes. Inflation and openness of other transactions are still decentralized without The intervention of the minister of finance and the government is indeed. To be made simultaneously as a medium of exchange, there is no essence of the amount that can change at any time. Those who view changing fate in a short time, there is a phase of losing the value of assets that is not worth it for long.
Say, every service. buying and selling goods and transaction activities are always offered with the best benefits for consumers, maybe it's temporary in nature and there are advantages that are enough to make people tempted, there is a calculation of the votitas for the recipient. Any store service that has its own margin , other friends have tasted salt and water using bitcoin even since the beginning of this forum being used, and it's impressive

[GreatArkansas]

I remember the days when I am planning to do some small business and it always comes to my mind that I will always accept Bitcoin.
By doing this, it is already huge help for the Bitcoin community which may help with mass adoption.

Another way is asking other businesses or people, "do you accept Bitcoin as payment?" Because if ever they are still don't know what Bitcoin is, they will be curious when they start to hear that question.

[yazher]

Accepting it as payment will give small positive changes so yes! if we are talking about giving people freebies when they pay with bitcoins, then it's a positive impact that will slowly give them the importance of bitcoins where they will learn more about it and finally they will gonna learn the importance of keeping it other than their real state assets where they have the full authority to store it at the safe place and withdraw it anytime they want. But first thing first, they need to learn the basic like we used to so that they can start their own journey towards the revolution of financial freedom.

[GeorgeJohn]

Actually Bitcoin adoption is viral more than the i expected that Bitcoin will go, making a clause that what can we do to speed up Bitcoin mass adoption, it looks like bitcoin of 2010  and the year of 2012, when bitcoin information has not circulate the way it's currently, now some companies and individual who were against bitcoin has embrace bitcoin and start investing on it, and know valuable companies that have not heard about bitcoin, so the adoption is moving very fast.

[CryptoWebDirectory]

What can the average everyday person do to speed up mass adoption? First, tell the places you shop that they should accept it! You might not be the only one telling them that and the more people saying "hey, you should accept Bitcoin" to them, the more they will feel the need to start accepting it. Let the businesses you shop at know you would give them more business if they accepted digital forms of payment like Bitcoin.

Own your own business? Do you part to speed up adoption by accepting Bitcoin. Mass adoption requires Bitcoin to be used & accepted by lots of people and places. Way more than we're at right now. Lots of people don't think there is much they can do, but one simple thing all of us can do is continue to spread the word and request the places we spend our money to accept it. The more places that start accepting it, the more adopted it will become..

[vv181]

As you know, bitcoin can be easily used as a currency in p2p transactions and no government has any influence here. But what about legal entities? For example, small shops, bars, etc., where now you can pay with BTC (By the way, there are not so many such places). It must be legally difficult to get it right. And what about those in whose countries it is difficult to overcome bureaucratic obstacles and calmly accept bitcoin in their shop?

Merchants are strictly tied to how the regulatory system in their own countries. As far as I concern, my country, Indonesia, strictly prohibits the use of Bitcoin and altcoins as a way of payment within Indonesia. Speaking of that, I just recently saw that some fashion brand doing it anyway, which it's likely breaking the law. Due to the nature of lack of adoption here and cryptocurrencies only addressed as a commodity, in the legal aspect, only times will wait for the brand to shut down the cryptocurrency payment options.

Can use the "accept as a donation" option instead of paying? In this case, will it be possible to hold you legally liable in your country? Will government agencies be able to punish this method? I understand that each country has its own legislation,~For example, this organization rents out rooms to pilgrims (and not only) in its "hotels" and the price list indicates "donation" and not payment for services. With this example, I wanted to show that the model of paying for services / goods under the guise of "donations" is quite real and feasible, and if use bitcoi for this, it can be even easier.

The community is waiting for the world to accept bitcoin to be used everywhere. Maybe it's worth trying actions that will speed this up? For example, encouraging buyers of your store's products or providing car repair services. You can offer a discount if pay in bitcoin. This will be beneficial for the buyer, and you get BTC for your purchases from other people, too, at a discount, or in a pinch, leave it as an investment.

Donation + discount when paying in BTC can be combined. Discounts could encourage people to use bitcoin and bring mass adoption closer through more users. In the end, BTCitcoin should circulate in society / economy, like blood in a living organism, and not stagnate and stale.

What can you say about this option? Will it be legal to use it?

Shifting a revenue into a donation, I believe wouldn't solve the problem either. As you have stated it's a disguise, so either they will face a problem from the governments, or they will hardly manage their accounting process.

Few things that I'd like to mention, strictly speaking in my own country, I believe services like Bitrefill may possess a solution. Most of the big brand in my country does offer a gift card for their own products/services on Bitrefill. I guess, making use of those kinds of services, and making the process for any industry to be able to offer gift cards into the platform easier, may helps the adoption.

[Sled]

We couldn't expect Bitcoin Mass adoption, however, we can't disclose any possibility that it comes in the future. I actually ask some people regarding Bitcoin and to ask what they know about this, I'm glad they heard this word but I'm sad hearing from them saying it was a scam. I could see that the only way to mass adoption is to eliminate the negative mindset of the people first. And showing them the benefits we got from this will help to enlighten their minds and change.

Another way is asking other businesses or people, "do you accept Bitcoin as payment?" Because if ever they are still don't know what Bitcoin is, they will be curious when they start to hear that question.

Indeed, they become curious to know what is Bitcoin, but no interest if you will accept it as payment. But seeing major establishments offers this payment option makes holders feel that the use of Bitcoin is totally safe.  

[7788bitcoin]

We couldn't expect Bitcoin Mass adoption, however, we can't disclose any possibility that it comes in the future. I actually ask some people regarding Bitcoin and to ask what they know about this, I'm glad they heard this word but I'm sad hearing from them saying it was a scam. I could see that the only way to mass adoption is to eliminate the negative mindset of the people first. And showing them the benefits we got from this will help to enlighten their minds and change.

We have come a long way in the last 10 years and the adoption rate keeps on increasing every year. You cannot expect all the third world countries using the cryptocurrency space where they do not have internet connection. We never expected any country to accept Bitcoin as a legal tender few years ago and now we have countries using Bitcoin as a legal tender and the changes keep on coming.

[m2017]

I really doubt that you might be able to get a discount while using bitcoins in any shop, there is a lot of volatility involved and at the same time people generally don't have enough profit margins to integrate the discounts in there.

Considering that there are not so many buyers with bitcoin (if don't consider examples with countries like Lucius's ), then why not offer a discount? Let's assume that out of the total sales in your store, sales for bitcoin will be 2-5%. Even with volatility, will this create huge losses for your business? I think not at all, but what a huge effect it will have on the spread of bitcoin in the future if stores offer this to their customers.

It's certainly legal to pay for anything with bitcoins as long as the currency is not really illegal in your area and also there are also bitcoin machines everywhere now, even in small towns therefore I think we can use those things to create a better environment making it more normal for people to buy/sell/trade easily anywhere.

The other day I came across the news that in Britain these machines maybe prohibited (if it's true). So, what is relevant today (bitcon machines) may be banned tomorrow.

There are also bitcoin banks which might be working soon enough and at the same time there are also countries like Ukraine who are accepting bitcoins on a broader basis. Using NFT's and donations as well, they will also issue bank cards for people using cryptocurrencies like bitcoins for trading etc.

Well, we can wait for bitcoin banks to open soon, or can take active steps to spread it. Whether it is accepting as payment in your store or selling and buying services that we can provide to others.

Donation + discount when paying in BTC can be combined. Discounts could encourage people to use bitcoin and bring mass adoption closer through more users. In the end, BTCitcoin should circulate in society / economy, like blood in a living organism, and not stagnate and stale.

Why would a company or a business owner give a discount to people? What for? I mean they are doing business, it's their purpose is to be profitable, and giving discounts would mean they'll lower their income. If we look at the volatility side, that alone is a risk that business owners will take, of course on the positive note, they can also enjoy high profitability when the price is bullish, but as I said, that volatility is a major problem for most businesses which the main purpose is to use bitcoin as a payment system.

IMO, an increase of adoption is only possible when governments fully regulate crypto.

Because the discount made in BTC now (unprofitable at first glance for the seller) in the future will be profitable for him (if hodl BTC). Also, the discount can be made such that it will be less than the margin of the product. In this case, the seller will still be profitable. There is another option: the seller will be able to profit from the turnover of products. Lower price (due to discounts) - more buyers - more profit (due to trading volumes). As you can see, there are always options.

I propose to use BTC as an alternative payment method, and not replace it with all existing ones right now. Like, you can pay a can of cola for $1 or $0.9 for BTC.

[BlackHatCoiner]

The problem with mass adoption is that Bitcoin, by its nature, promotes freedom of choice. No one is (and should ever) use Bitcoin by force, and they'll never be as it doesn't favor governments. Most people have used to be forced to use a currency.

Unpopular opinion: holding bitcoin is using it. Each person will have different use-cases for bitcoin as each people's needs are different.

That's, unfortunately, the popular opinion, but I'll have to disagree. Just holding it isn't using it, just as holding everything else does not equal with using it. You use gold when you develop electronics, or make teeth etc., but keeping your gold in dust pretty much shows the opposite: Your gold is unused.

Same happens with Bitcoin. You can't use it to create anything essentially and directly other than solely to transact with.

[coupable]

I don't think it may happen sooner. Simply because after about 12 years since its was lunched, the number of Bitcoin users remains insignificant compared to the number of Earth's population.
There are still hard work that need to be done to achieve new milestones in bitcoin adoption. But certainly, we have to focus on three main points imo :
1- Improving the time needed to confirm a transaction : this was the main issue since the volume of transactions increased in the blockchain which caused many other issues. Several updates has been made in this field (Segwit/Taproot...) but there are always a need to work on reduce time for confirming transaction whatever the situation of the network.
2- Supporting more transactions within a single block: Segwit update was one of the biggest step toward solving this issue but the problem can pump again once the network can support more transactions per second.
3- Reducing transaction fees when the volume of transactions is high : i don't really how to solve this technically but without working on this detail , other competitors can be better alternative for bitcoin whatever it's centralized or decentralized.

I found this interesting topic discussing the same matter , i advice you to take a look at it : How can we speed up the adoption of cryptocurrencies?

[BIT-BENDER]

Well I think we can do a lot to push Bitcoin mass adoption, to the world, but I would suggest we do it subtly, because let's be honest the newbies entering crypto-currency are losing the very basis of it.
I believe many of them  are not being tutored well, before they come, on board. So if we are to promote Bitcoin and crypto-currency let's all do it in a way that, that we can give newbies a chance to understand that crypto-currency isn't a get rich quick scheme.

[Oilacris]

I don't think it may happen sooner. Simply because after about 12 years since its was lunched, the number of Bitcoin users remains insignificant compared to the number of Earth's population.
There are still hard work that need to be done to achieve new milestones in bitcoin adoption. But certainly, we have to focus on three main points imo :
1- Improving the time needed to confirm a transaction : this was the main issue since the volume of transactions increased in the blockchain which caused many other issues. Several updates has been made in this field (Segwit/Taproot...) but there are always a need to work on reduce time for confirming transaction whatever the situation of the network.
2- Supporting more transactions within a single block: Segwit update was one of the biggest step toward solving this issue but the problem can pump again once the network can support more transactions per second.
3- Reducing transaction fees when the volume of transactions is high : i don't really how to solve this technically but without working on this detail , other competitors can be better alternative for bitcoin whatever it's centralized or decentralized.

I found this interesting topic discussing the same matter , i advice you to take a look at it : How can we speed up the adoption of cryptocurrencies?

It was lunched 12 years ago but trust demands too much time for that.Especially where there are sometimes high volatile situations, for those people who have no education in this, its very hard to trust it.

Awareness and indeed knowledge is the key and as said that this is something that wont really be that possible for everybody which it do really make things even more slower but well if someone do

really got curiosed then this is the time that they would really be making out some in depth research.It is true that volatility is one of the factors on why it do slows down and to add up it would

also be talking about legality.We do know that people would really hesitate on dealing up with something which isnt legalized or been preferred by government.

[Ryker1]

Well, it is through ^[awareness].
As we can see most of us now have social media accounts and the internet is part of our daily needs, so it is easy for bitcoin to spread over the internet. The time will come soon bitcoin will be used for all people as an alternative currency aside from fiat. There is no shortcut for this to have a bitcoin mass adoption, let us spread slowly and make everyone understand first before they embrace bitcoin, for me --it took for how many months before I decided to purchase and have an interest in bitcoin because I always have doubt on it. Later I understand the good side of it and until now I am still thankful for what I have found. People do the same on me for sure.

[worldtraveller321]

More less have to make Bitcoin popular in mainstream media. More less not on the principle of what it does. But turn Bitcoin into some type of fun entertainment icon.
People would embrace Bitcoin for the sake of something to be part of and may not have any idea or care of what it's purpose is.

That is how politics is so popular in the USA. They turned politics into the Superbowl. Where people take political sides like they were baseball teams.

Many have no clue on politics yet pretend to know it all.